The Winter Show at Greenhill

Last Sunday the Gallery at Greenhill in Greensboro, NC opened its annual Winter Show to the public, after having held a Collector's Choice gala fundraiser in the exhibit the night before. This year I was one of 120 North Carolina artists invited to exhibit work in the show, a great honor for me. I chose to include "Looking North on Water Street" (above painting on the left) and "On the Beach" (above painting on the right), two works completed as part of my Block Island series of 2013-2014.  I visited the show this past Tuesday and learned that "On the Beach" had sold at the gala. The exhibition will continue through January 15, 2016. The Gallery at Greenhill is located at 200 North Davie Street in Downtown Greensboro (http://www.greenhillnc.org).

House on the Curve (Block Island XII)

It's been a few months since my last blog post. After a very hectic start to this year, my professional world has calmed down and I once again have both the time and energy to devote to studio pursuits. In fact, I've made some important changes in my life that will allow me to pursue this avocation with a greater passion. I've very excited about that prospect.

This canvas was the final installment in my 12-painting series based on a vacation trip to Block Island, Rhode Island in the fall of 2013. It was recently featured in a show I had at the Wake County Justice Center in Raleigh, NC.

"House on the Curve (Block Island XII)."  Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches. Completed July 2014.

House by Town Beach (Block Island XI)

This painting is the next-to-last in my twelve-canvas series of Block Island (RI) images.  This house loomed over Town Beach just north of Old Harbor and I found it intriguing.

"House by Town Beach (Block Island XI)."  Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches. Completed July 2014.

United Arts Council exhibit opportunity

After a five month absence, I am returning to the studio to work again.  During these months I have sold two pieces - one through the Raleigh Fine Arts Society's 41st Annual Exhibition and another privately - and recently received a new exhibit opportunity through the United Arts Council: I currently have 15 paintings on display in the offices of the Wake County Commissioners inside the new Wake County Justice Center in downtown Raleigh.  This display will continue through September 2015.

To renew my blog posts I am featuring the tenth canvas in my 2013-2014 Block Island series.  This canvas depicts the island's South East Lighthouse and is one of the paintings in the United Arts Council show.

"South East Lighthouse (Block Island X)."  Oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches.  Completed February 2014.

Heading North to Old Harbor (Block Island IX)

I came across this Block Island house on the walk back from the South East Lighthouse to Old Harbor.  I turned the scene into a dusk image, with second-floor lights ablaze.

"Heading North to Old Harbor (Block Island IX)." Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches. Completed February 2014.

Blue Cottage Studies

These are two small "blue cottage" studies I did from the island visit.  I focused on a quick application of paint and a very loose brush stroke.

"Blue Cottage #1 (Block Island VII)" and "Blue Cottage #2 (Block Island VIII).  Both are oil on canvas, 9 x 12 inches.  Completed January 2014.

Holly and Berries

Here's a little holiday cheer from my studio.  Merry Christmas everyone!

"Holly and Berries." Oil on canvas, 9 x 12 inches. Completed November 2014.

Spring Street Cottage (Block Island VI)

This post features more work from Block Island (RI).  I saw this cottage while taking the pedestrian route to the South East Lighthouse and found it picturesque (especially the little "cyclops" window along the side facade).

"Spring Street Cottage (Block Island VI). Oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches. Completed January 2014.

Looking North on Water Street (Block Island V)

It's been two long months since my last post.  In addition to taking a break from studio work to vacation in the Midwest, I also needed to recharge my thoughts.  This past week I worked in the studio for the first time since early September, and it felt great. Time to start some new projects.

This piece is the fifth in a series of paintings I completed in late 2013 and 2014 from a trip I made to Block Island, Rhode Island.  It depicts the main thoroughfare in the island's major village, Old Harbor.

"Looking North on Water Street (Block Island V)."  Oil on stretched canvas, 18 x 24 inches.  Completed January 2014.

House on Pilot Hill Road (Block Island IV)

Number four in my 2013-2014 Block Island series.  This was a wonderful cottage hidden off of Pilot Hill Road near a small lake.

"House on Pilot Hill Road (Block Island IV)."  Oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches.  Completed December 2013.

On the Beach (Block Island III)

This work is the third in my recent Block Island series.  It depicts the beach near Old Harbor.  I used a photo and my memory as source materials, but I severely simplified the composition elements to focus on two structures, rather than the many that stand along the shore.  As I have done in the entire series, I used a yellow sky as the backdrop to add atmosphere.

"On the Beach (Block Island III)."  Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches. Completed December 2013.

View from Town Beach (Block Island II)

This is the second in my Block Island (RI) series.  It depicts the village of Old Harbor from Town Beach.

"View from Town Beach (Block Island II).  Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches.  Completed December 2013.

Litmus Gallery Show

I will have several Raleigh-themed paintings on display during the month of July in a show at the Litmus Gallery in Downtown Raleigh (along with Raleigh photographer Charles Uzzell). The gallery is located at 312 W. Cabarrus Street in the middle of the Warehouse District. It's directly across from the Amtrak Station, adjacent to the intersection of Dawson and Cabarrus streets. Their web link is http://www.litmusgallery.com/index.html

The gallery will be open tonight for the July 4th First Friday from 6-9 p.m. and all four Saturdays in July (5th, 12th, 19th and 26th) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During the Saturday hours there is convenient parking right by the gallery (reserved parking spaces). I will be at the gallery tonight, so if you plan to be downtown for the fireworks and celebration, please stop by!

The Spring House (Block Island I)

Late last fall I began a series of canvases based on a day trip I took to Block Island, RI in October 2013.  I am still working on the series, but to-date I have ten completed works.  This large canvas was the first in the series, and I showed it in-progress back in December (http://kennetheugenepeters.blogspot.com/2013/12/on-easel-spring-house.html).  This is the completed piece; it depicts one of the major hotels on the island, The Spring House.

"The Spring House (Block Island I)."  Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches.  Completed December 2013.

Rhode Island Sunset

This small work was the first painting I completed after visiting New England last September.  The idea came to me as I was entering a seafood restaurant in Newport, Rhode Island one evening.  Across the street sat a very small cottage-like house, and the sun was setting behind it.  When I returned home, I tried to recapture that image with this canvas.

"Rhode Island Sunset."  Oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches.  Completed October 2013.

St. Agnes Hospital

It's been awhile since my last post.  I have been painting, but the "business" side of visual art has been lagging in my studio.  It's time to get back on the public relations bandwagon.

This is one of the canvases I created last year for the Richard B. Harrison Library exhibit I had in the fall of 2013.  It depicts the ruins of St. Agnes Hospital on the campus of St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, NC.  The site is actually under major renovation, and there is hope that this structure will be rehabilitated and put to use once more (although not as a hospital, I presume).

"St. Agnes Hospital."  Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches. Completed in August 2013.

Savannah Bound

Despite the lack of blog postings, I've actually been very busy in the studio.  I've continued working on the series of canvases inspired by my trip to Rhode Island in late September.  Today I head out for my annual winter pilgrimage to Savannah, Georgia.  Once I return, I will begin to post photos of the recent work.

Stelle Rosse

I'm taking a short break from the studio to celebrate Christmas with my family and friends.  Here's hoping everyone has a Happy Holiday season.

"Stelle Rosse."  Oil on canvas, 12 x 16 inches.  Completed October 2013.

Savannah Study #6

This post features another small Savannah study completed earlier this year.  It depicts storefronts along Whitaker Street in the Historic District.

"Savannah Study #6: Whitaker Street Storefronts."  Oil on canvas, 8 x 10 inches.  Completed July 2013.

On the Easel: The Spring House

This past month I began what will be a series of canvases based on my visit to Block Island, Rhode Island in September.  I plan to present some of these in-progress before posting the final version.  This first work depicts one of the hotels on the island, the Spring House.  As I do with all of my paintings, I began with a red ground in acrylic.  Then, taking a soft brush, I sketched out the composition in burnt sienna.  I wanted to give the scene some drama, so I improvised a moody yellow sky as the back drop (ignore the shadow created by my easel in this photo).  Soon I will present the finished painting.